If you’re hoping to entice your teen to indulge in some sustained reading over the final weeks of the school holidays, then Ali Cross by James Patterson could be the answer. This is a fast-paced, thrilling new YA read based on Patterson’s successful adult mystery series featuring Detective Alex Cross.
No doubt you are familiar with James Patterson who is one of the worlds biggest selling authors for adults – the Alex Cross series has sold over 100 million copies. Ali Cross is bringing stories of the Cross family to a younger audience.
When ten-year-old Ali’s best friend Gabe Qualls goes missing he is determined to help find his friend. Eager to follow in his father’s footsteps as a detective, Ali has picked up a few useful skills from observing his father in action. Adults who are familiar with the Alex Cross books will know of Ali from his appearance in that series.
However, time is ticking, and Ali isn’t satisfied with how the police are handling the case so despite being warned not to get involved he puts together a small group of friends and starts to investigate. Naturally, that means getting into trouble, tight situations and sometimes crossing the line.
Meanwhile, Alex Cross has his own problems to deal with. He is on trial for assault and the press are watching his every move.
The content, while tailored for a YA audience, is just as captivating as one of Patterson’s adult novels. The plot also reflects on the importance of family and friends, trust, loyalty and bullying. You may find your teen reading it in one sitting, eager to find out if Ali finds Gabe and then you may find yourself giving it a go – if you’ve managed to finish all your Christmas books.
A quick search on James Patterson’s books for a younger audience will show that he is equally popular and prolific when it comes to writing for kids. Apparently, Patterson started writing stories for younger readers because his son was a reluctant reader. So if you also have a young reader in the house who needs to be tempted to pick up a book, Ali Cross may be the solution. It’s certainly a fast-paced, easy and entertaining read.
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